And yet he has 4pts in 4gmsHuby Dooby Doo, where are you? Guy has looked pretty invisible at 5on5 aside from a few spinorama passes...
Actually he was out twice.He hasn't looked very good so far. Sutter had him start OT and then never put him back out as he looked too slow and out of sync with everyone else.
Actually he was out twice.
I'm not too worried about it. I think he looks good as an individual, but his game relies a lot on chemistry in terms of guys getting to where he needs them.Hmm. Must have been pretty short the 2nd time as I was trying to watch for him. Still seemed pretty ineffective.
It's been pointed it out on here, on SN intermissions, and Millen was talking about it a bit on the broadcast yesterday from what I was able to gather, but a guy like Huberdeau isn't going to just easily mesh with guys. They used the reference to him as a "delay" type playmaker, but really he seems like a guy who changes the angle really quick to lob a pass off to a guy driving space from behind--not quite like Gaudreau playmaking of drawing guys in and then zipping a pass through a bunch of sticks. Just off the cuff feels like a bit of difference between making guys open vs. finding the best open guy. Two very different styles of playmaking that it's gonna take guys like Lindholm a bit to adjust and everyone is gonna get comfortable with how linemates play.The talent is obviously there but he just hasn't found his groove, good news he has 4 points in 5 games not looking in sync.
Huby Dooby Doo, where are you? Guy has looked pretty invisible at 5on5 aside from a few spinorama passes...
Biggest thing I’ve noticed as well, they are just entirely different type of playmakers. Gaudreau used his skating to open up lanes, and it was players like Lindholm’s job to create separation for when the lane opens up. A mass percentage of Lindholm and especially Monahan’s goals were from their ability to sneak into an open area in the slot at exactly the right time.It's been pointed it out on here, on SN intermissions, and Millen was talking about it a bit on the broadcast yesterday from what I was able to gather, but a guy like Huberdeau isn't going to just easily mesh with guys. They used the reference to him as a "delay" type playmaker, but really he seems like a guy who changes the angle really quick to lob a pass off to a guy driving space from behind--not quite like Gaudreau playmaking of drawing guys in and then zipping a pass through a bunch of sticks. Just off the cuff feels like a bit of difference between making guys open vs. finding the best open guy. Two very different styles of playmaking that it's gonna take guys like Lindholm a bit to adjust and everyone is gonna get comfortable with how linemates play.
Another big thing is the whole factor of Huberdeau essentially playing Quebec and Florida hockey. East coast through his whole career, and hasn't played in Canada in some time, and now he's having a bit of a surprise change to become the franchise guy. It should be expected that guys facing such a dramatic change career wise (especially for the first time) are gonna take some time to truly get into a groove, on top of the factors of playstyle indicating a longer period of getting comfortable.
Agreed. Gaudreau was a lot of skating, and a threat of a shot making guys skate/get out of position, and then boom, Monahan/Lindholm get lost in coverage and can score from the mid-high slot or tougher angles. Huberdeau doesn't carry the same shot threat and doesn't really pull guys out of coverage so far, it's an ability to find guys in motion and to, despite proper coverage, find a guy who is open.Biggest thing I’ve noticed as well, they are just entirely different type of playmakers. Gaudreau used his skating to open up lanes, and it was players like Lindholm’s job to create separation for when the lane opens up. A mass percentage of Lindholm and especially Monahan’s goals were from their ability to sneak into an open area in the slot at exactly the right time.
Huberdeau’s specialty is just finding lanes no one else can see, especially by changing angles (his favorite spin pass). For Huberdeau it’s not just about being open at the right time, it’s about always being ready because he will find whoever has the time and space on the ice. Lindholm and Toffoli have had to double clutch so many passes it seems this year due to the change, allowing the goalie to have time to square up. Once the chemistry fits in and the shots come off more seamless that line will explode, both Lindholm and Toffoli are natural shooters.
How about giving Huberdeau and Lindholm a seat in the press box for a while and calling up Phillips
So let me get this straight. The team is 4-1-0 and off to a great start. Every Power ranking has the Flames in the top 10 ... Some as high as 1.
Next somehow people expect a completely rebuilt first line to automatically gel? Every time Calgary was forced to line Johnny up with another center due to a Monahan injury Johnny struggled mightily. It even took 20 games to gel Lindy at the end of 2020-21.
It has been 5 regular season games mixed in with illness in the locker room. Maybe those discussions should wait until game 20-25 if their struggles continue.